Automatically-inflatable life preserver



April 7, 1964 T. J. KUBrr ETAL 3,127,624

' AUTOMATICALLY-INFLATABLE LIFE PRESERVER Filed June 19, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 April 7, 1964 T. J. KUBIT ETAL AuToMATIcALLY-INFLATABLE LIFE PRESERVER Filed June 19, 1961 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS J. Kl//' WAH/.4M 5. 554/770 T. J. KUBIT ETAL 3,127,624

AUToMATIcALLY-INFLATABLE LIFE PRESERVER April` 7, 19.64

3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 19, 1961 BYMZMQL United StatesY Patent Oiice 3,127,624 Patented Apr. 7, 1964 Filed June I9, wel, Ser. No. 117,95@ 2 Claims. (lll, 9-317) rlfhis invention relates to life preservers and, in particular, to automatically-iinclatable life preservers.

One object of this invention is to provide an automaticaliy-inilatable life preserver wherein a compressed gas cartridge or flask is automatically punctured to cause this gas to flow into the iniiatable lite preserver in response to the dissolving of a pellet of water-soluble material brought about by the presence of the wearer of the life preserver in water.

Another object is to provide an automatically-inflatable life preserver of the foregoing character wherein the automatic inilating device is capable of being carried, together with the rolled-up or folded life preservar, in a compact package upon the wearer, such as in the wearers pocket, or in a shoulder holster or other convenient carrier.

Another object is to provide an automaticaily-inllatable lite preserver of the foregoing character wherein the mechanism for puncturing the compressed gas cartridge or flask is adapted to be inactivated during periods of storage or transportation, but is adapted to be quickiy and easily activated so as to be iustantiy ready for use in the event of the wearer `falling or otherwise finding himself in the water.

Another object is to provide an automaticaliy-inllatable life preserver of the foregoing character wherein a springactuated puncturing device is held in a cocked position but prevented lfrom puncturing the gas or cartridge by a pellet or tablet of water-soluble material, such as a sugar cube, which upon dissolving in the water releases the spring-pressed mechanism to puncture the flask and thus inflate the life preserver.

Another object is to provide an automatically-infiatsble lite preserver, of the foregoing character, wherein a mannelly-operable punoturing device is provided for i Lanual operation by the user in a manner auxiliary to the automatic puncturing mechanism, if for any reason the automatic mechanism should fail to function or should inadvertently have been lett in its inactivated condition.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent during the course or the following description of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a top plan view, partly in horizontal section, ot an automatically-inilatable lite preserver, according to one form of the invention, with the cover plate removed and the maior portion o1 the lite preserver itself omitted to conserve space and with the mechanism in its uncooked or inactivated condition;

FIGURE 2 is a vertical longitudinal section taken along the line 2 2 in FIGURE l; with the cover plate in position;

FIGURE 3 is a ertical cross-section taken along the line 3-3 in FIGURE l, also with the cover plate in position;

FIGURE 4 is a fragmentary horizontal section taken along the line 4 4 in FIGURE 3, with the manual puncturing cam lever omitted to disclose the parts beneath it;

FIGURE 5 is a top plan view similar to FIGURE l, 'out with the puncturing mechanism in its cocked or activated position;

FGURE 5 is a top plan view similar to FIGURES 1 and 5, but with the soluble pellet or tablet dissolved by immersion in water and the puncturing mechanism in its red or actuated position after puncturing the gas flask;

FIGURE 7 is a fragmentary top plan view similar to FlGUi 5 but with the manual ilask-puncturing mechanism shown in its operated position after puncturing the gas flask;

FIGURE 8 is a front elevation of the upper part of the body of a wearer olf the life preserver, showing the latter carried in a shoulder mounting;

FIGURE 9 is a view similar to FIGURE 8 but showing the life preserver carried in the users breast pocket;

FIGURE l() is a View similar to FIGURE 8 but showthe wearer in the water and the life preserver automatically inflated as the result of such immersion; and

7`iGURE il is a perspective View of the automaticallyinflatable lite preserver shown in FIGURES l to l0 inelusive.

Reieung to the drawings in detail, FIGURES 1 and l1 show an automatically-inatable life preserver, generally designated Ztl, according to one form of the invention as consisting generally of an inflatable life preserver 22 of any suitable form, the form shown being a life belt made of rubber or the like. The life belt is adapted to be filled by means of a compressed gas, such as carbon dioxide, from an automatic irn'iating device, generally designated 24, by way or" an inliating tube 26 leading to a connection 23 with the interior of the iniiatable life belt 22.

The automatic indating device 24 to which the inlating tube 2,6 is connected is mounted in a box-shaped casing Ell ot' aluminum, plastic or other light wateresistant and durable material. The casing 35i along one side is provided with a pocket or recess 32 in which is mounted a conventional compressed gas lla-sk or cartridge 34, such as a carbon dioxide cartridge of the type commonly used in beverage carbonating Siphon bottles. The cartridge 34 has a neck 36 which terminates in a rupturable end closure 38 (FIGURE l), the neck 36 extending loosely through an enlarged hole 4) in the wall l2 of the pocket 32 in such a manner that the flask or cartridge 34 can move longitudinally toward a hollow puncturing needle 44. The puncturing needle 44 projects inwardly toward the ilask end closure 3S from a threaded plug lo which in turn is threaded into an internallythreaded bore t8 in the casing Si), closing the inner end of the threaded bore d. The outer end of the threaded bore 453 is closed by a threaded plug 50 spaced axially away from the plug 43 to provide a chamber 52 with which the passageway 54 of the hollow puncturing needle 44 communicates. The casing wall portion 56 containing the threaded bore 43 is threaded transversely as at 58 to receive the threaded coupling 6l) at the inner end of the inllating tube Z6. The casing wall portion 56 is also threaded transversely to receive a locking set screw 62 for locking the puncturing needle plug 46 Within the inner end of the bore The casing Si? also contains a spring pocket 6d in which a tension spring 66 is mounted. One end d ofthe tension spring 66 (FIGURE l) is hooked into an internallythreaded hanged collar or nut 7l?, the threaded bore 72 of which is threadedly engaged by a screwshaft 74. The screwshaft 74 passes loosely through the casing end wall portion 78 which is suitably drilled for that purpose, and terminates in a head lill which is transversely drilled to receive a winding handle or crank 82. The latter is pivotally mounted in the head @il so as to be capable of being swung from the inoperative position of FIGURES l, 5 and 6 to the operative position of FIGURE 11. In order to avoid straining the spring 6d, it is normally adapted to be maintained in the relaxed condition shown in FIGURES 1 and 1l and is stretched into a tensioned condition by rotating the screwshaft 74 by means of the crank 82 swung into the operating position of FIGURE 11 so as to cause the internally-threaded collar 70 to move outward from the position shown in FIGURES 1 and 11 to the position shown in FIGURES 5 and 6, whereupon the crank or handle 82 may be swung back into the inoperative position within the casing 3G as shown in FIG- URES l, 5 and 6.

The opposite end 84 of the spring 66 is also bent and hooked into a hole 3o in the outer end of a lower cam lever 83, the inner end of which carries a lower cam 9i? and is drilled eccentrically thereto for pivotal mounting upon a pivot screw 92 threaded into a threaded bore 94 in the bottom wall 96 of the casing 30 (FIGURE 3). The lower cam lever S8 is provided with an arm 93 carrying a downwardly-extending lug 100 forming a sear, by analogy to firearms, engaged by an upstanding lug 102 which in turn is struck up from a trigger lever 164. Near the lug 162, the trigger lever 1M is drilled to receive a pivot screw 1% (FIGURE 3) upon which it is pivotally mounted to swing between the positions shown in FIG- URES 5 and 6. rThe trigger lever 164 near its outer end is provided with outer and inner stepped edges 198 and 111) respectively cooperating with an abutment wall 112 (FIGURE 1) to hold either small sugar cube 114 (shown in dotted lines in FIGURE l) or a large sugar cube 116 (shown in solid lines therein). The sugar cube 114 or 116 is held against the abutment wall 112 by the tension of the spring 66 acting through the lower cam lever 83 against the trigger lever 164 through the coacting lugs 11i@ and 102.

Also drilled eccentrically to be pivotally mounted on the pivot screw 92 is an upper or manual cam lever 11d also having a cam 120 thereon similar to the cam 9@ previously described and having its outer end provided with a hole 122 for receiving one end of a knotted pull cord or cable 124 which passes through a hole 12S in the abutment wall 112, the opposite end also being knotted and carrying a handle knob 126. 'Ille cams 90 and 120 in their cocked positions are adapted to engage the rounded rearward end 128 of the compressed gas flask 34 so as to move the latter longitudinally within its socket 32 when either of the cam levers 8S or 118 is swung around the pivot screw 92 to rotate the cam 90 or the cam 120, as explained below in connection with the operation of the invention. The casing 30 is closed by a transparent cover plate 130 secured thereto by screws 132 in holes 134 (FIGURES 3 and l1).

In the operation of the invention, let it be assumed that before going near the water the user of the automatically inatable life preserver 2i) of this invention has prepared it for instant use. compressed gas cartridge or ask 34 of carbon dioxide or other suitable gas in the pocket 32 after inserting the neck portion 36 thereof in the hole 40 through the partition wall 42 (FIGURE 1), then dropping the rearward end 128 into the pocket 32 in line with the lower and upper cams 90 and 120. He then inserts a water-soluble pellet or tablet 114 or 116 in the pocket 64 against the abutment 112, either a small sugar cube 114 or a large sugar cube 116 being found suitable for this purpose. The cube 114 or 116 is inserted while the trigger lever 104 is swung to the right into the position shown in FIGURES 1, 5 and 11. The user now swings the crank 82 into its operative position shown in FIGURE 11 and rotates the screwshaft 74 so as to move the internally-threaded hanged collar or nut 70 from its spring-relaxing position of FIGURE l to its spring-tensioning position of FIGURE 5. The crank 82 is then swung back into its inoperative position (FIG- URE 1).

At this time, the lower cam lever is held in yits cocked position by the trigger lever 1194 and water soluble tablet or pellet 114 or 116. The parts are now in the relative positions shown in FIGURE 5, with the mechanism fully cocked and ready for instant operation. The user then either fastens the life preserver in his breast pocket with the life belt 22 rolled up, as shown in FIGURE 9, such To do so, he iirst inserts a ,i

4 as by a clip 136 (FIGURE 9), or suspends it from his shoulder by a shoulder strap 133 (FIGURE 8) with the life belt 22 strapped around his chest beneath his armpits.

Let it be assumed that the user falls or is forced t0 jump into the water either by accident or intention, such as by the occurrence of a fire or other disaster aboard his boat. The water rushes in through the hole and through the crack between the cover 130 and the casing Sii, as well as through the hole for the screwshaft 74, and acts upon the soluble material of the tablet 114 or 116, dissolving it. When the tabiet 114 or 116, for example a sugar cube (FIGURE 5) has disintegrated under the action of the water, the spring d6 puils the lower cam lever 33 in a counterclockwise direction around the pivot screw 92, pushing aside the trigger lever 1414 by its sliding engagement therewith through the lugs 109 and 1512. This action causes the lower cam 99 to rotate, pushing against the inner end 128 of the compressed gas cartridge 34, urging the closure 3S against the hollow puncturing needle 44 and causing the latter to penetrate the former. The parts are now in the relative positions shown in FIGURE 6. The compressed gas within the cartridge or flask 34 rushes out through the passageway 54 in the hollow needle 44 by way of the chamber 52 and the inflating tube 26 into the inilatable life belt 22, inflating the latter. The thus iniated life belt, supporting the user, is shown in FIG- URE 10, where the life belt 22 has been strapped around the chest of the user. The life belt 22 in FIGURE 9 by such inilation would unroll, leaving it to the user to strap it around his body.

If for any reason the automatic puncturing mechanism faits to work in the above manner, such as, for example, if the user had inadvertently neglected to rotate the screwshaft 74 to tension the spring 66 and cock the mechanism, the user merely grasps the knob 126 and gives a jerk to the cord 124. This action swings the upper cam lever 11S in a counterclockwise direction from the position shown in FiGURE 1 to that shown in FIGURE 7, rotating the upper cam 122 in such a manner as to push the closure 33 of the compressed gas flask 34 against the hollow puncturing needle 44, puncturing the closure 38 and causing the gas to flow out and inflate the life belt 22 in the manner previously described.

After use, to prepare the device 20 for re-use, the operator removes the screws 132 and the cover plate 139, takes out the empty punctured gas cartridge 34, and swings the upper and lower cam levers 118 and 38 and the trigger lever 1114 clockwise into the positions shown in FIGURE l. He then inserts a new compressed gas cartridge 34 in the pocket 32 with its neck portion 36 projecting loosely through the hole 4), and places another sugar cube or other soluble tablet or pellet 114 or 116 in position holding the trigger lever 194 and lower cam lever 83 in their cocked positions. If the device is to be stored, the user swings tie crank l32 into its operative position and rotates the screwshaft 74 reversely so as t0 return the nut 74) from its spring-tensioning position of FIGURES 5 and 6 to its relaxed position of FIGURE l, returning the crank 82 to its position within tr e casing 30 when this action has been completed.

What we claim is:

. 1. An automatically-inatable life preserver, comprising a buoyant inflatable gas receptacle having a gas inflation inlet,

a supporting structure,

a stationary hollow puncturing element xedly mounted on said structure in communication with said inlet,

said structure having a compressed gas cartridge holder disposed adjacent said puncturing element,

a pivot element mounted on said structure;

a gas cartridge moving member including a lever pivotally mounted on said pivot element adjacent said gas cartridge holder and having a rotary cam thereon disposed eccentric to said pivot eiernent and engageable with one end of the gas cartridge,

spring connected to said gas cartridge moving lever and operative to swing said gas cartridge moving lever to rotate said cam and consequently push the gas cartridge into puncturing engagement with said puncturing element,

and means responsive to the presence of a Water soluble 2. An automatically-infiatable life preserver, comprising a buoyant iniatable gas receptacle having a gas ination inlet, a supporting structure, a stationary hollow puncturing element ixedly mounted on said structure in communication with said inlet, said structure having a compressed gas cartridge holder disposed adjacent said puncturing element, a pivot element mounted on said structure, a gas cartridge moving member including a lever pivotaily mounted on said pivot element adjacent said gas cartridge holder and having a rotary cam thereon disposed eccentric to said pivot element and engageable with one end of the gas cartridge,

a spring connected to said gas cartridge moving lever and operative to swing said gas cartridge moving lever to rotate said cam and consequently push the gas cartridge into puncturing engagement with said puncturing element,

means responsive to the presence of a water soluble body for restraining said cartridge-moving lever from cartridge-moving motion and responsive to the dissolution of the water solubie body for releasing said cartridge-moving lever for cartridge-moving motion, said supporting structure having a bearing portion disposed coaxial with said spring,

and adjusting means including a screw-threaded spring abutment connected to one end of said spring and a rotary screw shaft journaled in said bearing portion and disposed in threaded engagement With said spring abutment for selectively rendering said spring cocked and relaxed.

References Cited in the iile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,424,597 Werry July 29, 1947 2,684,784 Fox July 27, 1954 2,786,599 Higbee Mar. 26, 1957 2,821,725 Harper Feb. 4, 1958 2,840,833 Fruendt July l, 1958 $04,218 Pontious Sept. 15, i959 2,924,192 Salvage Feb. 9, 196() FOREIGN PATENTS 284,379 Italy Apr. l0, 1931 

1. AN AUTOMATICALLY-INFLATABLE LIFE PRESERVER, COMPRISING A BUOYANT INFLATABLE GAS RECEPTACLE HAVING A GAS INFLATION INLET, A SUPPORTING STRUCTURE, A STATIONARY HOLLOW PUNCTURING ELEMENT FIXEDLY MOUNTED ON SAID STRUCTURE IN COMMUNICATION WITH SAID INLET, SAID STRUCTURE HAVING A COMPRESSED GAS CARTRIDGE HOLDER DISPOSED ADJACENT SAID PUNCTURING ELEMENT, A PIVOT ELEMENT MOUNTED ON SAID STRUCTURE; A GAS CARTRIDGE MOVING MEMBER INCLUDING A LEVER PIVOTALLY MOUNTED ON SAID PIVOT ELEMENT ADJACENT SAID GAS CARTRIDGE HOLDER AND HAVING A ROTARY CAM THEREON DISPOSED ECCENTRIC TO SAID PIVOT ELEMENT AND ENGAGEABLE WITH ONE END OF THE GAS CARTRIDGE, 